<![CDATA[How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids?]]>A proper sexual education works better than banning them from the "dirty" internet. However helps from software makes it easier.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/63897/how-to-make-internet-surfing-safer-for-the-kidsRSS for NodeSat, 09 May 2026 20:12:33 GMTTue, 15 Jul 2014 09:37:50 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Wed, 21 May 2014 01:48:23 GMT]]>

jango:
There are free Android apps that allows you to specify which app require a password to run. You might also want to try to try using Bing instead of Google for web search. Bing has much better filtering functions.


Personally I restrict my children's screen time both PC and tablets/phones and I make sure they use it in the living room where we can easily monitor what they are doing. Besides web search, Youtube should be every parents #1 concern - its full of filth!
When our kids were small, there wasn't much protection available, or we didn't know about it. What we did was simply instruct our kids not to click on any links without our permission, and not to enter any searches in google without our permission. I bookmarked all their favourite sites for them. Our kids have been taught to be obedient, and I was always at home, so asking was not inconvenient for them. By the time they were about 11yo, we were more relaxed as we saw they were more able to judge for themselves. However, we still kept a close eye on what they were doing.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1296377https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1296377Wed, 21 May 2014 01:48:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Wed, 21 May 2014 01:33:17 GMT]]>http://i57.tinypic.com/2i24caq.jpg\">


Hi parents!

This is posted in the parents support group portal and thought it might be something that you can join if you are keen to find out how to protect your children from threats in cybercrimes and understand the impact of cyber-bullying/and how the new anti harassment law can protect you and your children. There is also an interesting dialogue panel that covers different expertise including of how to use technology to safeguard your children.

This is in collaboration with the Coalition against bullying for children and youth with Microsoft Singapore and is happening on 31st May from 10am - 12pm.

You can find the agenda and register (Registration is free) via the link below and also have attached the e-invite. There is also a simple game at the end of the session, might stand a chance to win the Xbox 360 bundle worth $399.

http://bit.ly/1gmb8CY

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1296361https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1296361Wed, 21 May 2014 01:33:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Wed, 14 May 2014 12:31:19 GMT]]>There are free Android apps that allows you to specify which app require a password to run. You might also want to try to try using Bing instead of Google for web search. Bing has much better filtering functions.


Personally I restrict my children’s screen time both PC and tablets/phones and I make sure they use it in the living room where we can easily monitor what they are doing. Besides web search, Youtube should be every parents #1 concern - its full of filth!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1290339https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1290339Wed, 14 May 2014 12:31:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Wed, 14 May 2014 06:25:48 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
If you are going to be giving a smart phone for your child, it is better to give an Apple device than an Android device. With the iPhones or iPads, it is much easier for you to control the installation and use of the phone. You can decide the exact apps you want your child to use, and also the sites that he is allowed to visit. Android devices are pretty much free-for-all, there are not parental mechanisms built in to prevent the kids from previewing and installing all kinds of undesirable apps.

In our case this will be difficult. We have just started my parents on smart phones, as there are no more non-smart-phones for upgrade. And since DW and I have been using Android, we got my folks to go on Android too (and also passed my S3 over to one of them). My parents are around 80 so as you might expect, had difficulty learning these gadgets, and DC will help their grannies to learn how to make calls, charge, etc.

We also have a few tablets that are all android. 2 of them are free gifts for using credit card and subscribing papers...

So basically we're all android at home. And DD whistle-blowed recently that DS (in P3) used my mother's phone to search for 'naked girl'! We spoke to him and he said he did it out of curiosity...

I had tried to see if there is any parental control function on all the android gadgets and the apps, but haven't been able to find any. Is there any way to guard against this?

tks...

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1290075https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1290075Wed, 14 May 2014 06:25:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Mon, 12 May 2014 04:01:31 GMT]]>If you are going to be giving a smart phone for your child, it is better to give an Apple device than an Android device. With the iPhones or iPads, it is much easier for you to control the installation and use of the phone. You can decide the exact apps you want your child to use, and also the sites that he is allowed to visit. Android devices are pretty much free-for-all, there are not parental mechanisms built in to prevent the kids from previewing and installing all kinds of undesirable apps.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1288228https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1288228Mon, 12 May 2014 04:01:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Mon, 12 May 2014 03:10:51 GMT]]>

Pure Purple:
Thank you all for the great pointers and recommendations. I'm not IT savvy at all, so am treading very gingerly. They have also started to ask for downloading of apps. I'll like to hear on what your stand is on such requests and how to draw a line once started. Any views welcomed please?

We have similar yardsticks in terms of violence and 'value' of the app as for downloading anything onto the PC. We ask things like: what does it do? is it useful/important? will it waste time? is it addictive? will it cost money now or in the future? (sometimes they lead to downloading other things that must be paid for). Our general rule is that we never download an app that costs money unless it has some real value, eg. for learning something, or it's a useful tool to do something.

My daughter only got a smartphone last year when she was 14yo, and we tend to leave it to her good sense. However, since she already developed the habit of consulting us about downloads on the PC when she was younger, she does consult us first about downloading apps too. We have been reassured that she is sensible as she has not downloaded any of the really addictive games as she herself realises (from observing her classmates) that they are distracting and time-wasting. She will sometimes play them on her friends' phones for fun and for short periods. For a younger child, you probably want to set a rule of no downloads without parents' permission, and reserve the right to delete anything that turns out to be addictive or time-wasting or too violent.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1288166https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1288166Mon, 12 May 2014 03:10:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Mon, 12 May 2014 00:23:10 GMT]]>Thank you all for the great pointers and recommendations. I’m not IT savvy at all, so am treading very gingerly. They have also started to ask for downloading of apps. I’ll like to hear on what your stand is on such requests and how to draw a line once started. Any views welcomed please?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1287954https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1287954Mon, 12 May 2014 00:23:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Mon, 28 Apr 2014 10:51:42 GMT]]>hi, Microsoft Live Family Safety Filter is good, but I can suggest you to try some commercial software like Pc Pandora or PCWebControl, those two are the best in my opinion as far as friendly interface and number of features are concerned.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1277038https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1277038Mon, 28 Apr 2014 10:51:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:57:03 GMT]]>Yes I would say a mass majority of porn sites. As for ads not too sure since they are usually loaded as a web frame. If a certain site is not filtered you can manuualy add it to the deny list. Then monitor the access logs weekly very simple.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1175457https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1175457Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:57:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:56:35 GMT]]>Yes I would say a mass majority of porn sites. As for ads not too sure since they are usually loaded as a web frame. If a certain site is not filtered you can manuualy add it to the deny list. Then monitor the access logs weekly very simple.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1175456https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1175456Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:56:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Fri, 27 Dec 2013 08:30:44 GMT]]>I have same problem but If we use filter then it will stop all the porn sites and unwanted ads or not. Can you brief???

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1175311https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1175311Fri, 27 Dec 2013 08:30:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Fri, 13 Dec 2013 02:12:10 GMT]]>Hi, you may want to try out Microsoft Live Family Safety Filter. It is free and all you need is a live.com email address. The filter is quite easy to use and is capable of filtering applications, web sites based on URL or content categories, time-based management, and all sorts of activity logging. I use it for my 8 yo girl and I could put my mind at ease giving her access to the PC knowing what she can and cannot access, especially when she needs the PC for school e-learning. Hope this helps! 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1165827https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1165827Fri, 13 Dec 2013 02:12:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Thu, 07 Nov 2013 01:22:38 GMT]]>Besides these PC-based products and software, I believe that simple solutions are also important. Most importantly, educating kids about what they should avoid and providing adult supervision. When my kids first started using the computer, we forbade them from using searches - they only made use of the bookmarked links that I vetted and bookmarked for them. Any new recommendations from friends had to be vetted by me first. They had to ask permission to use the computer, and we would only allow it after schoolwork or during weekends when we were around. We would talk about the dangers etc now and again, and we started letting them do their own searches around 10yo, still under supervision. Our PCs have always been located in central areas where I am constantly around (I am a SAHM, it would be harder to supervise if parents are not around). We are also strict parents and our kids know that when we say there will be penalties for misuse, we mean it! Now my kids are teens and they each have their own PC, but we still don’t allow them to use them behind closed doors and I make a point to peer over their shoulders at random intervals, and we also don’t allow unlimited use.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1140047https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1140047Thu, 07 Nov 2013 01:22:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 23:16:29 GMT]]>No probs.


Anyways its a PC based-product - so only the PC is affected. Tho’ I dunno about the friendliness of the setup!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1139987https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1139987Wed, 06 Nov 2013 23:16:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:36:33 GMT]]>Thanks for this ohms. I’ll try it. We don’t use a router, I hope it works nonetheless. Looks like a good resource. Thanks so much!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1139983https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1139983Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:36:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to Make Internet Surfing Safer for the Kids? on Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:09:24 GMT]]>

Pure Purple:
Hi, I've delayed introducing IT to my child, now 7. But looks like I need to cave in soon.


How do I make internet use safer for my kids? There is so much trash out there. I do not wish for them to view unsavoury advertisements, pornographic materials etc. Can Google search results be free from adult-oriented websites? Are there free child filters easily available? I'm an absolute beginner on this matter. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.
You can try this service \"FAMILYShield\" from OpenDNS.com. I have used Open DNS services and they are a US-based internet service provider, and got no complaints on their services. But I have not tried this new service before - and its free! This is the website http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions/parental-controls/
It re-routes all internet requests to its equipment. As usual, expect all filters to \"slow\" things down.
Hope it helps!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1136060https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1136060Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:09:24 GMT